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SLT partners Science and Technology Ministry

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) has partnered the Ministry of Science and Technology of Sri Lanka to provide a total communications solution package to the Ministry and other relevant institutes such as Technology Institutes, Research and Development Centres as well as islandwide ‘Vidatha Resource Centres’.

The ‘Vidatha Resource Centres’ are a key initiative taken by the Ministry of Science and Technology to enable access to e-mail, internet, fax and distance learning in rural areas of Sri Lanka under the theme of “Gamata Thakshanaya”. This carries out Technology Transfer Programmes around the country.

These Resource Centres provide Bank Loans, Local and Foreign Market Information, Techniques of Enterprise Development etc. to improve living standards of the rural communities. SLT is the exclusive communications provider for the 300 ‘Vidatha’ Centres and other important institutes that operate under the Ministry.

Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Tissa Vitarana said, “the process of transferring technology through ‘Vidatha Centres’ set up islandwide is being continued. We have observed that through this process, a large number of small scale entrepreneurs have emerged with their own businesses. It’s very clear that technology plays a key role in shaping our society by creating a bright future for the whole community”.

With this partnership, the Ministry, ‘Vidatha Resource Centres’ and other important institutions will be provided with SLT broadband internet and total voice communication facilities using wired and wireless technologies. Three hundred Resource Centres in all provinces will be empowered by SLT’s superior broadband internet connectivity. SLT broadband internet services are provided through high capacity dedicated Internet Leased Line (ILL) and ADSL technology, providing connectivity to SLTnet, the largest ISP in the country. With this broadband connectivity, SLT provides internet facilities to all the locations.

Voice calls within the network including ‘Vidatha Resource Centres’ will be free and this in turn will reduce the communication costs of the ministry. Also, SLT will provide high capacity digital (E1) connectivity to handle the ministry’s large volume of voice communication traffic.

The communication services provided by SLT will cut down costs whilst increasing productivity for the Ministry of Science and Technology. It will also make operations smoother by facilitating communication and information sharing among the different institutions connected to the ministry.

Chairperson, Sri Lanka Telecom Mrs. Leisha De Silva Chandrasena said, “We are fully supportive of the initiatives taken by the Ministry of Science and Technology, to revolutionize human society and efforts put in place to build an information and knowledge-based society.. Over the past few years, SLT has played a major role in the ICT sector in the country. It is proven that SLT’s technology leadership has changed the way in which people live, do business, entertain themselves and educate themselves.

SLT, together with the Science and Technology Ministry will explore the future possibilities to fulfill the Ministry’s vision of making Sri Lanka a scientifically and technologically advanced country in the region by 2020.

ANC Awards Night

On July 22, seventy-one outstanding ANC students received their international degrees from Missouri University of Science and Technology and Northwood University USA at the annual ANC awards night and over 200 transfers to top universities in the US, UK, Australia and Malaysia. It was organised at the Hilton Colombo followed by a Fashion Show, Glitterati 2009.

ANC Education Holdings, offers local and international students American, Australian and British undergraduate programs leading to easier transfers to top universities in the world and international degree completion options in Sri Lanka. ANC is approved by BOI Sri Lanka and maintains high quality university standards in all aspects of education.

Welcoming a large group of delegates from Northwood University, Pattern University, Monash University, Missouri S and T University and NCUK representing over 11 prestigious UK universities’ Chairman ANC Education Holdings Jagath Alwis said “ANC Education Holdings has set new standards to the high quality education in South Asia. ANC will continue to produce high achievers in the US, UK, Australia and Malaysia bringing recognition to Sri Lanka. There is a big demand among Sri Lankan students to study in high quality foreign universities.

“The knowledge and experience you acquire through your accredited American education is a big opportunity for you.

Whilst presenting graduation certificates to over 70 graduates President and CEO Northwood University Dr. Keith Pretty said, graduation ceremony is a just reward for the hard work and enthusiasm they have consistently applied to their studies and the passion they have demonstrated in the classroom.

“ANC’s dedication to produce leaders through high quality foreign education at an affordable price has fulfilled dreams of many students and parents today. The stability and long-term approach of ANC and the commitment of its students, faculty, staff and partner universities distinguish us from other education providers. During the seven years that we have worked together, ANC has always made every effort to provide its students with a rigorous, globally recognised education. CEO/Executive Director of ANC Education Holdings Dr. Punarjeewa Karunanayake said.

ETI Homes ISO 9001:2000 certification renewed

ETI Homes, the construction and property development arm of the Edirisinghe Trust Investments Ltd (ETI) conglomerate, said that its ISO 9001:2000 certification, initially issued in 2007, has been renewed for another year.

This certification was awarded to ETI Homes for its consistent unflagging excellence in construction supervision, a true first in Sri Lanka.

Issued by UKAS Quality Management on behalf of the International Organization of Standards (ISO), this world-renowned industry yardstick is granted after a thorough evaluation of key criteria such as: the formulation of a set of procedures that cover all key processes in the business; the monitoring of processes to ensure that they are effective; the keeping of adequate records; the inspection of output for defects with appropriate corrective action where necessary; regular reviews of individual processes and the quality system itself for effectiveness; and the facilitation of continual improvement.

GM - ETI Homes, Ranjan Perera, said “achieving the benchmark is only the beginning of a journey; the crucial factor is to maintain and upgrade these standards.”

CEO Mahendra De Silva said that “the awarding and renewal of the ISO 9001: 2000 certification is proof that, while our revenue growth and stability has placed us at the forefront of the industry and made us a household name, we’ve never lost our single-minded focus on demanding the very highest levels of quality from our employees and systems.”

Asian hair and beauty industry

Celebrates 25 years in partnership:

Nayana Karunaratne who is wellknown in the Asian hair and beauty industry celebrates 25 years of business partnership with Kanjana Godigamuwa.

This will be a milestone in women business as well as being visionaries in their industry. Nayana Karunaratne handles Salon Nayana enterprise and Image Academy of Hair and Beauty as well as the Image Academy of Personality Development.

Kanjana Godigamuwa said, “My aim has always been to bring happiness and a sense of fulfillment to our clientele. It is also very important to be competitive and look for ways that you can be on the cutting edge, by offering the best service possible. That is what makes the difference in this industry. Nayana Karunaratne is the founder of the Sri Lanka Association for Hairdressers and Beauticians (SLAHAB) in 1996.

She is a board member of the World Federation of Hairdressers (OMC) and has been nominated as President of the OMC Asia Zone for the second time.

She is also an international trainer, in her capacity as OMC Asia President. She was also recognized as the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 by the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

She said, “The key to my success is because I am very focused, goal oriented, hard working, disciplined and extremely organized in what I endeavour in. This has been a progressive growth for me, starting with the opening of my salon, and its expansion within Sri Lanka as well as into India. What has driven so far has been my passionate sense of personal commitment to the services offered at Salon Nayana.

This goes hand in hand with the fact that I have dedicated my career in helping men and women to look their best and to elevate the profession of hairdressing in Asia to global standards.”

Salon Nayana has come a long way evolving into a business enterprise with a unisex chain of 12 salons in Sri Lanka and India. It currently has over 150 dedicated professionals comprising cosmetologists, stylists and nutritionists.

BoC schols for 18+ Account Holders

18+ Savings accounts of the Bank of Ceylon, offer a number of benefits to account holders. The scholarships awarded to high performers at GCE (Advanced Level) examination, who were successful in entering a university is one such benefit.

The Bank of Ceylon recently held a ceremony at the head office to award 90 scholarships of Rs. 30,000 each to scholarship winners who sat for G.C.E. (A/L) examination in the year 2007. Every year five candidates each from all four streams of Science, Maths, Commerce and Arts are selected islandwide from those earn the highest score in the GCE (A/L) exam and awarded merit scholarships.

In addition, a number of scholarships are awarded corresponding to the number of years of Bank’s existence.

The Bank awarded 69 scholarships in addition to the merit scholarships for 18+account holders selected randomly through a draw from those who entered the university in the year 2008, after being accepted at the Advanced Level examination held in the year 2007.

This year’s ceremony was the presentation of a special award to Iroshan Chandimal, 18+ account holder who ranked first in the Bio Science stream.

The chief guest at this ceremony was Minister of Vocational and Technical Training Piyasena Gamage, Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe, General Manager, members of the corporate management and the scholarship winners participated.